Blue Cash Everyday® Card From American Express
vs. Citi Double Cash® Card

Updated: July 25, 2024

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Both the Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express and the Citi Double Cash® Card offer enticing cash back rewards without annual fees, appealing if you value straightforward savings on their purchases. In benefits face-off, the Citi Double Cash Card edges ahead with its simple 2% cash back on all purchases, making it a compelling choice for those who prefer a no-fuss rewards structure.

But the Blue Cash Everyday Card should not be overlooked, especially if you frequently spend at U.S. supermarkets, online retailers and gas stations, where it provides a higher cash back rate. Ultimately, the right card for you depends on where your spending is concentrated.

Credit Card logo for Blue Cash Everyday® Card From American Express
Blue Cash Everyday® Card From American Express
Credit Card logo for Citi Double Cash® Card
Citi Double Cash® Card
MoneyGeek Rating
3.7/ of 5
MoneyGeek Rating
3.7/ of 5

  • Regular APR
    19.24%–29.99% variable
    19.24% - 29.24% variable
    0% APR Offer
    0% for 15 months on purchases
    -
    Intro Offer
    Earn $200
    Earn $200 Cash Back
    Rewards Summary
    Earn 1%–3% cash back
    Earn 1%–5% cash back
    Balance Transfer Offer
    0% for 15 months on balance transfers
    0% for 18 months on balance transfers
    Balance Transfer Fee
    Either $5 or 3% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater
    5% of each transfer ($5 minimum)
    Annual Fee
    $0
    $0
    Recommended Credit
    670–850 (Good to Excellent)
    670-850 (Good to Excellent)
    Penalty APR
    29.99% variable, can last over six months
    Up to 29.99% (Variable)
    Not sure?

Which Card Is Better for You?

You might prefer the Blue Cash Everyday if you frequently shop at U.S. supermarkets, gas stations and online retailers. The card's tiered cash back rewards are tailored for these categories, and the introductory offer adds immediate value. The introductory APR on purchases can also help with larger, planned expenses.

You might prefer the Citi Double Cash if you value simplicity in your rewards program and have a variety of expenses that don't fit into specific categories. The flat-rate cash back on all purchases, regardless of the category, along with a longer balance transfer introductory period, makes this card a flexible option for managing your finances.

Head-to-Head Comparison: Card Details and Features

Evaluating features like APRs, fees, credit requirements, rewards and introductory offers will clarify which card is for you. For instance, if you frequently shop at supermarkets, the Blue Cash Everyday may offer more value, whereas the Citi Double Cash is optimal for straightforward cash back on all purchases.

    discount icon

    Regular APR: Citi Double Cash

    The Citi Double Cash offers a slightly better regular APR range, with its upper limit at 29.24% compared with the Blue Cash Everyday's 29.99%, despite sharing the same lower range.

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    Annual Fee: Tie

    Both the Blue Cash Everyday and the Citi Double Cash have no annual fee.

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    Introductory 0% APRs: Tie

    The Blue Cash Everyday offers 0% APR for 15 months on both purchases and balance transfers, with a balance transfer fee of either $5 or 3% of the transfer amount, whichever is higher. The Citi Double Cash provides 0% APR for 18 months on balance transfers only, with a transfer fee of 5% ($5 minimum).

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    Rewards: Blue Cash Everyday

    The Blue Cash Everyday is better for rewards in specific categories like U.S. supermarkets, online retail purchases and gas stations with its 3% cash back. However, the Citi Double Cash excels in general spending with a flat 2% cash back on all purchases.

    Both cards offer redemption flexibility, but Blue Cash Everyday's higher category rewards make it more advantageous for targeted spending.

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    Welcome Offers: Citi Double Cash

    The Citi Double Cash Card edges out with a better welcome offer lower spending requirement to earn the same $200 cash back as the Blue Cash Everyday.

    creditApproved icon

    Recommended Credit Score: Tie

    Both the Blue Cash Everyday and the Citi Double Cash require a credit score range of 670 to 850, indicating they are accessible if you have good to excellent credit.

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    Penalties and Fees: Blue Cash Everyday

    The Blue Cash Everyday is slightly better for penalties and fees, with a lower late fee of up to $40 compared with Citi Double Cash's up to $41, and a lower foreign transaction fee of 2.7% versus 3%. Both cards have similar cash advance fees and penalty APRs.

    points icon

    Issuer Satisfaction: Blue Cash Everyday

    The \American Express has a higher issuer satisfaction rating at 5.0, compared with Citi at 4.1. This suggests that customers generally have a more positive experience with American Express in terms of service, support and issue resolution.

    airplane icon

    Other Features & Perks: Tie

    The Blue Cash Everyday card offers a $7 monthly statement credit for Disney Bundle subscriptions and up to $15 back per month on Home Chef meal kit subscriptions.

    The Citi Double Cash offers valuable travel perks, including additional cash back on bookings made through the Citi Travel portal until December 31, 2024.

Rewards Comparison

If you value simplicity and consistent rewards across all spending, the Citi Double Cash is compelling. It offers an uncomplicated 2% cash back on every purchase: 1% when you buy and another 1% as you pay. This straightforward approach applies to all purchases without category restrictions.

By contrast, the Blue Cash Everyday caters to specific spending habits. It's advantageous if you frequently shop at U.S. supermarkets, U.S. gas stations and online U.S. retailers, offering 3% cash back in these categories, up to a $6,000 annual limit per category, then 1%. For all other purchases, it provides 1% cash back.

While the Citi Double Cash Card maintains a consistent reward rate, the Blue Cash Everyday Card could yield more rewards for those with high spending in its bonus categories. The table of bonus categories for both cards will help you compare at a glance.

Category
Blue Cash Everyday
Citi Double Cash

U.S. Supermarkets

3% for the first $6,000 annually/1% thereafter

1%/1% as you pay

U.S. Online Retail Purchases

3% for the first $6,000 annually/1% thereafter

1%/1% as you pay

U.S. Gas Stations

3% for the first $6,000 annually/1% thereafter

1%/1% as you pay

Travel (Booked through Issuer's Portal)

1%

5% through 12/31/24

All Other Purchases

1%

1%/1% as you pay

Redeeming Rewards

The Blue Cash Everyday allows you to redeem your cash back directly at Amazon.com or as a statement credit, offering flexibility without a minimum redemption threshold. Importantly, your cash back won't expire, ensuring you can use your rewards at your convenience.

On the other hand, the Citi Double Cash provides the option to redeem your cash back for a direct deposit, statement credit or a check, catering to different preferences. The rewards on this card also do not expire as long as your account remains open.

Methodology

MoneyGeek evaluates credit cards like the Blue Cash Everyday and Citi Double Cash based on their performance in various use cases. This approach ensures that the score reflects the card's performance in the scenario where it provides the most value.

For cash back cards, the primary factors we consider are the effective reward rate and the return on investment for offers. These elements — along with annual fees, introductory purchase rates and issuer satisfaction — contribute to a card's overall score. For a detailed understanding of our process, you can review our ranking methodology.

FAQ: Blue Cash Everyday vs. Citi Double Cash

What are the cash back rewards for each card?
Do either of the cards have an annual fee?
What are the introductory APR offers for these cards?
How do the balance transfer fees compare between the two cards?
Which card is better for international travel?

For rates and fees of the Blue Cash Everyday® Card From American Express, please click here.

About Doug Milnes, CFA


Doug Milnes, CFA headshot

Doug Milnes is a CFA charter holder with over 10 years of experience in corporate finance and the Head of Credit Cards at MoneyGeek. Formerly, he performed valuations for Duff and Phelps and financial planning and analysis for various companies. His analysis has been cited by U.S. News and World Report, The Hill, the Los Angeles Times, The New York Times and many other outlets.

Milnes holds a master’s degree in data science from Northwestern University. He geeks out on helping people feel on top of their credit card use, from managing debt to optimizing rewards.


*Rates, fees or bonuses may vary or include specific stipulations. The content on this page is accurate as of the posting/last updated date; however, some of the offers mentioned may have expired. We recommend visiting the card issuer’s website for the most up-to-date information available.
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